BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A logging licence holder in Malaita province has called on all foreign logging companies operating in the province to work amicably with its licensees toward development aspirations of landowners.

In an interview yesterday, Peter Waikiri made the call following a missing link between contractors and licensees on addressing areas of interest for landowners in the province.

He said as experienced, landowners always become victims of any logging operation in the province as all benefits taken by the government and contractors.

Waikiri said apart from benefit distributions, cooperation between responsible partners in the business towards development for landowners is also missing.

“The point I want to stress is how contractors and licensees should work together to save the interest of the landowners.

“My experience proved to me that contractors only interest in areas of their benefits, and never at all consider interest of any party in the business.

“To be honest, I as a Solomon Islanders with the licence I have, I want to help develop my people with what I can in logging sector.

“I at all time during the business, I fight for landowners so that I (licensee) and contractor to address some areas of interest for landowners.

“These may include, at least good road for landowners to use after the logging may leave, help for communal areas like, schools, clinics and churches,” he said.

Waikiri said all those things never work due to non-consideration by contractors to privileges for landowners.

He said he tried his best to work with contractors on those areas, but he found it hard. Because only what benefits the contractors is what at their interest.

Waikiri said they always don’t want to listen to licensees on areas of development under the business in the province.

He added that they also don’t mind about the privileges of licensees that on his/her behalf they have opportunity to work.

Waikiri said this is an area of concern for people in Malaita province and responsible government agencies must do something about it.

He raised that if government wants to allow foreign logging contractors to invest in the country, what development they expects them to do for the people in the country?

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

in Auki

A former SINPF financial member Henry B Kahui has supported the call by Mr Charles Dausabea to consider withdrawal of the tax policy on retirement benefits for public servants.

Former MP Dausabea made the call last week in an appeal for SINPF to deliberate on reforming the policy for the interest of its members.

Mr Kahui also suggests amendment be made to the policy.

He said the tax policy, which has been going on for decades, has only disadvantaged NPF members.

Kahui said the policy hinges on unfairness for the hardworking public servant who has saved up after being initially taxed.

He said it also shows government’s little appreciation for the service rendered by the retiring public servant.

“The government should feel that after its servants had saved the country for that long, the benefit should be given to them in full and not for government to claim share in it.

“Another area to consider is if the government finds it hard to withdraw the tax, they should only impose minimal tax rate on the retirement benefits.

“Like when I retired some 10 years back, the government taxed me up to 45 percent.

“This is a real scenario happened to me and at the end the government just took back what she supposed to reward me for the service I did,” Kahui said.

He stressed that there is a need for an amendment on the policy and government should do something about it.

Kahui also said that government should focus on more development for the country to collect taxes from rather than heavily relying on taxing its people.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

in Auki

A concerned citizen has called for an internal investigation on what he describes as a well-established network between foreign loggers and some staff within the Ministry of Forest and Research (MFR).

The person, who wishes anonymity, said this ‘arrangement between the loggers and officials has been going on for a long time.

The informant said the two groups serve only their interests.

“Unlike other government ministries, the MFR has large influence by foreign loggers mostly Asians on areas of their work in the country.

“And many especially locals has become victim of the network when they don’t perform to the involvement of foreign loggers in the network.

“It is believed a substantial amount of money is behind the network that manipulates the activity involved.

“As a result any can tell that privileges for foreign loggers is always rated priority for MFR officers rather than dealing with any related logging issue raised by locals,” the source said.

The source said there have been incidents in which landowners brought their grievances on logging issues to MFR, but were either turned down or stalled for years.

The source said this shows how effective the network between the two groups is.

“So with that network any grievances raised by landowners to MFR that tends to directed on the foreign loggers, the officers will deal with it in the interest of their network.

“That left the poor landowner’s victim of his own resources and again the staff within the MFR that supposed to protect the landowners.”

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands Medical Association (SIMA) is grateful to the Solomon Island Government for signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) of the doctors scheme of service.

The SIMA in a signing ceremony yesterday commended the government through Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Health and Medical Services for their response which has resulted in a MOU.

SIMA President Dr Claude Posala said SIMA is grateful that they have come to an agreement to resolve the issue of doctors’ scheme of service, which paves a new direction for them.

He appreciated and is happy with the government that their dialogue recently has come to fruition.

“That kind of dialogue with the Solomon Islands Government is one good direction, and we want that good direction to be continue for any time such issues arises it can be done by dialogue, not in industrial action,” Mr Posala said.

With the successful event, SIMA requesting government to keep the environment open so that any other issues they have it quickly solve.

Ministry of Health and Medical Service Permanent Secretary Dr Tenneth Dalipanda is also happy they have come to sign an MOU with SIMA.

Mr Dalipanda acknowledged SIMA for their patients and effort that they have come into comprises and agreed to sign an MOU with government responsible Ministries.

Yesterday’s event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Health and Medical Services and executives of the SIMA which take place at Regional Eye centre.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A South Sea Evangelical Church Pastor (SSEC) has condemned a statement made by the Kingdom movement leader in Malaita Mr Kemmeul Kalani during the height of the movement in Auki last month.

Kalani had said, “I’m just a SSEC pastor, not a king or prophet and my group is still a part of the South Sea Evangelical Church (SSEC).”

But, according to Pr Japhlet Reni, the kingdom movement is no longer a part of the SSEC church.

The big question that rose among the SSEC congregation members now is: “What can our leaders do now?”

“Now the public is aware that Mr Kalani is a pastor of SSEC and his group is still a part of it though many claim and regard him as a false prophet or teacher,” Reni said.

“Mr Kalani was so proud and confident to make such bold statements publicly through media and this is not a joke or fairy-tale for us- it is a serious matter to deal with rather than public making fun of us.”

Reni adds it is sad to see and hear SSEC members are deceived by false teachers and teachings and even involved in cargo cult movements.

“This is not right for SSEC members to do in regards of its teaching and doctrine.

“We have seen men mixing philosophy (man’s wisdom) with Gods revealed messages and this is causing confusion and divisions.

“Different preachers have their own approach of God’s message; and some even invent their own vocabulary.

“As a pastor it seems to me, we leaders, pastors and co-worker of the church are sleeping spiritually. We are lax in our responsibility to teach Gods Word.”

Paul admonished Timothy to, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patients and careful instruction” (2 Tim 4:2.NIV).

“It is time to awake and work not watch and criticise others or ourselves.

“It is time to guide, nourish, teach and visit our local churches in our associations and the region.

“We must make good use of our opportunity God gives, as Apostle Paul stated in Colossians 4:5.NIV.

“And it’s a command for all of us; we must work for God there’s no room for excuses, all of us has a task to do.” Jesus said;” As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work “John 9:4.NIV.

“As a Church this is not a time to compromise; this is not a time to appease the enemy.

“This is the time to tell the truth as it is.

“Do not believe the lies of the devil; The Word of God declared all others are thieves and liars: There is only one who is true; His name is Jesus Christ Son of the living God,” Reni said.